ARLINGTON, Va. — Erin Grand will serve as the new Arlington Soccer Girls Academy Associate Director, Technical Director German Peri has announced.

Grand, who has more than a dozen years of coaching experience at the club and collegiate levels in the United States, Canada and England, arrives after spending three years with the Portland Thorns Academy. In addition to coaching a pair of teams, she also served as the National Women’s Soccer League club’s director of player development for their academy program.

The addition of Grand bolsters a girls travel coaching staff that features 17 female coaches and reaffirms Arlington Soccer’s commitment to hiring not only more female coaches but providing opportunities for women at director positions. She will help oversee a Girls Academy program that is sending an Arlington Soccer record five Academy teams to the ECNL National Playoffs June 24-July 1 in San Diego.  

“We are extremely excited to bring in such a high-level coach in Erin, who possesses a wealth of experience and expertise,” Peri said. “Our club has prioritized identifying, recruiting and retaining top coaches who are reflective of the identities of our players and communities. We will continue to invest in all of our coaches’ growth and focus on bringing new voices, ideas and perspectives to support our teams.”

Grand’s coaching resume spans from youth to collegiate soccer. While she was in Portland, she also served as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer program at George Fox University. She also has been a head coach for five other clubs: Bridge City Soccer Club, Tualatin Hills United Soccer Club, North Carolina Football Club Youth, Triangle Futbol Club Alliance and North London Soccer Club. In addition, Grand worked in match analytics for University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer.

She played collegiately at the University of Western Ontario and, from 2004 to 2006, was a member of the Canadian National Training Team in Ontario.

Grand believes that soccer is about people and connection. Her philosophy is to coach with respect, teach with patience, live with principle and develop people.

“I could not be more excited about joining this incredible organization,” Grand said. “Arlington Soccer has established itself as a wonderful place to grow as a player and person. This is a special community that I am grateful to be a part of, and I look forward to working with everyone at the club.”

About Arlington Soccer Association

Founded in 1970, Arlington Soccer is a non-profit association that provides soccer programs for youth of all abilities, backgrounds and financial means in Arlington and surrounding communities. The club develops players, coaches, volunteers and staff, with an enduring commitment to teamwork and community. We offer a broad curriculum to more than 9,000 children per year in a wide variety of programs, including recreational, developmental and travel along with camps, clinics and community-based programs.